CP/MAS 13C NMR study of pulp hornification using nanocrystalline cellulose as a model system

Alexander Idström, Harald Brelid, Magnus Nydén, Lars Nordstierna*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The hornification process of paper pulp was investigated using solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. Nanocrystalline cellulose was used to serve as a model system of the crystalline parts of the fibrils in pulp fibers. Characterization of the nanocrystalline cellulose dimensions was carried out using scanning electron microscopy. The samples were treated by drying and wetting cycles prior to NMR analysis where the hornification phenomenon was recorded by spectral changes of the cellulose C-4 carbon signals. An increase of the crystalline signal and a decrease of the signals corresponding to the accessible amorphous domains were found for both paper pulp and nanocrystalline cellulose. These spectral changes grew stronger with repeating drying and wetting cycles. The results show that cellulose co-crystallization contribute to hornification. Another conclusion is that the surfaces of higher hydrophobicity in cellulose fibrils have an increased preference for aggregation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)881-884
Number of pages4
JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
Volume92
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Solid-state NMR
  • ¹³C NMR
  • Hornification
  • Paper pulp
  • Cellulose
  • Nanocrystalline cellulose
  • Fibril aggregation

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